Photography: An Illustrated History (Oxford Illustrated Histories Y/A) [Hardcover]

Martin W. Sandler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0195126084 | ISBN-13: 978-0195126082

Photography: An Illustrated History is a captivating account of how photography evolved from labor-intensive daguerrotypes in the mid-1800s to one of the most popular hobbies and respected art forms in the world today. Brimming with black-and-white and color photographs from throughout its multifaceted history, this volume not only documents technological developments, but also the phenomenal effect the craft has had upon journalism, industry, science, medicine, the military, and beyond. Featuring the accomplishments of pioneers such as Louis Daguerre, George Eastman, Julia Margaret Cameron, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Margaret Bourke-White, and others, Photography: An Illustrated History presents an engaging history of photography through some of the most spectacular images ever captured on film.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Featuring at least one carefully selected image on every spread, this brief, authoritative history presents a largely chronological overview of photography's major figures and their technical and artistic innovations. From the daguerreotype and calotype through films and papers to a brief mention of digital photography, technological developments are clearly explained, often in the context of changing photographic styles. The invention of movies is noted, and chapters on color prints and films, war photography, and modern photography round out the text. One may argue that two images by Frances Benjamin Johnston, Heinrich K hn, and Toni Frissell are misrepresentative when only one is provided for Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Mathew Brady, Margaret Bourke-White, Edward Weston, and Ansel Adams. However, one can hardly quibble with the quality of the images selected-they are outstanding. Minor errors include an image attributed in the text to Wayne Miller but in the caption and index to Barrett Gallagher. The index also indicates that there are two illustrations by Francis Frith, but there is only one. The writing style is formal and seems, at least in some instances, to be unnecessarily elliptical: "In recent decades the world of photography has benefited from the emergence of masterful photographers from countries not previously heralded for their contributions to the medium." Excellent end matter contains a chronology, mostly based on the text, from the mid-1700s camera obscuras to the introduction of Adobe Photoshop in 1990; and an international list of photography museums and Web sites. In all, a compact history, engaging and literate, about this melding of art and science, this painting with light.
Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City,
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. Sandler expands and updates the material in his excellent out-of-print Story of American Photography (1984) in this nicely organized survey that integrates the technical aspects of the medium with descriptions of the artists who advanced it. The first chapter, about photography's beginnings, explains the basic principles of photography, including a cross section of a camera. Subsequent chapters include expanded sections on fashion photography and early international photographs. There is also a whole chapter on war photography. Sandler touches perhaps too briefly on new technology, such as medical thermograms and the influence of Photoshop and computer manipulation. Most exciting are the images themselves, which range from famous examples of photojournalism--Huynh Cong Ut's wartime image of a Vietnamese girl running and Sebastio Salgado's searing photographs from his Worker series--to fine art. A resource section with addresses, Web sites, and a bibliography of mostly adult titles conclude this well-done, clearly written overview. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195126084
• ISBN-13: 978-0195126082
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #732,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story about the discovery of photography, the evolution and the photographers, September 27, 2009

By 

I. N. Berg (Stockholm) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Photography: An Illustrated History (Oxford Illustrated Histories Y/A) (Hardcover)

I like Sandlers history. He tells a fluent story. He describes the evolution through talking about the persons making the discoveries and the photographers developing seeing. There are quotes and backgrounds. This sets his book apart from others I've read. It makes it a lively and interesting read and the history is easier to remember.

Every page has excellent reproductions, even the index pages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bargain on Kindle, July 1, 2010

By 

Earl J. Mcgehee "earl49" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Photography: An Illustrated History (Oxford Illustrated Histories) (Oxford Illustrated Histories Y/A) (Kindle Edition)

The Kindle includes all the pictures and the color ones are in color. The page layout is similar to the printed book and is very usable. This book is a great bargain on the Kindle. It is full of great photos from famous photographers.